Constellations

On our way to Mars

It has been a month since the isolation period. The team is gathered in firing room one at the Kennedy space centre to watch one of three cargo launches. You are impressed at the sheer size of the Starship. Everyone is waiting with bated breath. You get the feeling that it will be worse when your team will be leaving.

"Launch in t-minus ten...nine...eight...five...four...three...two...one," Danny announces as the rocket roars off the pad. You have always been impressed at Elon's devotion to getting people to Mars. A massive ripple of applause flows through the room. You are suddenly hit by a wave of anxiety.

"Excuse me," You remark as you leave. Two painstaking minutes later you have made it to the bathroom. You try to wash the anxiety from your body but it's not working. You hope it won't affect your performance. You feel a comforting hand on your shoulder. It's from Kelsey.

"You know this is the lady's bathroom," Kelsey ignores the statement altogether.

"I don't care. I just need to know that you will be alright," He responds as you turn to face him. You sigh.

"I'm sorry it's just hit me that we will be leaving in three weeks and the pre-flight nerves are going like crazy and the more I think about it the worse it gets," You explain. You feel bad for not telling anyone sooner. You can feel the reassuring glare from Kelsey.

"I know I'm not a psychologist but I know you will be fine," Kelsey is trying his best to cheer you up. He pulls you into an embrace. You are glad that you met someone like Kelsey.

"Besides I have faith in Elon and the rest of the SpaceX team," You let out a half-hearted giggle. Thirty minutes later you have calmed down enough to have your pre quarantine interview. You quickly compose yourself as you get the microphone on. You've never liked the solo interviews.

"Welcome could you state your rank and name for the record?" The interviewer asks.

"I am commander Lilly Moretti-Collins of Nova one," You respond. You get the feeling that it's going to be an interesting interview.

"Let's get the easy question out of the way. Why did you choose to go to Mars with the Nova program?"

"Well, I was heavily involved with the commercial crew program. Then Danny contacted me about Nova and I said yes," you are starting to feel a little more relaxed.

"As a veteran astronaut what are your thoughts on the dangers of Mars?"

"I think it would be more dangerous if we didn't go. I don't mean to be a pessimist but I am convinced that if we don't become a space-faring race soon there will be an extinction-level event," you give the answer that both you and Kelsey agree on. You start to think about what he would say about it. You wish you were doing the interview with him. That would make it easy.

"Interesting. I think this has been asked before but what would be the one thing that you would miss the most when you leave?" The interviewer asks. You settle on the answer immediately.

"Yes that has been asked before but I don't care. There are two things that I will miss. One being my family and the other being a breathable atmosphere," You respond wishfully. You know that your dad will probably be at the mission control watching the starship very closely. After ten minutes of questioning that interviewer looks like he is just about done with the questions.

"I have one last question," the interviewer has decided to wrap up the interview.

"Go for it," You respond.

"I was wondering as the Commander of this mission what would be the hardest part of keeping a team together?" he asks.

"Oh boy...umm I think the biggest problem I face as the Commander is the issue of separation from earth but I do believe that my team will be able to handle the isolation well providing that they are honest about their feelings," You reflect on your two week isolation period.